Laser Gum Surgery & Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is a condition in which the gum tissue has become infected and inflamed to a point that the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, causing exposed root surfaces and extreme tooth sensitivity. Laser gum surgery is a treatment that can be used to clear out infection and repair receding gum tissue to bring the mouth back to a healthy state.
Laser surgery is a non-invasive procedure that can be used to treat a number of gum tissue problems. In addition to the treatment of periodontal disease, laser gum surgery can be used to treat a gummy smile or an uneven gum line. In this section, we are going to focus on the benefits of laser gum surgery to treat gum disease.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease develops in phases, beginning with gingivitis. Gingivitis is simply the inflammation of gum tissue, which can usually be resolved with a professional cleaning and improved home care. Left untreated, gingivitis can quickly develop into periodontal disease, and the gums will begin to recede from the tooth surface and cause tooth sensitivity due to exposed roots. This will require a deep cleaning (scale and root planing) and possibly more frequent professional cleanings for a few years to make sure it does not return.
At this point, most damage done by periodontal disease is reversible, but if it still remains untreated, it turns into advanced periodontitis, and the damage is no longer reversible and requires additional treatment. Advanced periodontitis can cause bone and tooth loss.
Laser gum surgery is minimally invasive and is used to repair receding gums and clear away infected gum tissue and infection, encouraging the newly treated area to heal closer to the tooth.
What is Laser Gum Surgery?
Gum grafting is a more traditional treatment for gum recession that uses tissue from the roof of the patient's mouth, from a donor, or animal tissue. The new tissue is placed over the affected areas and left to integrate with the existing gum tissue. Gum grafting can be moderately painful and takes a few weeks to heal to a point where you can resume a normal diet.
Laser gum surgery is much less invasive and only takes a day or two to heal, allowing you to resume your normal diet and activities much quicker. This is because laser gum surgery does not involve incisions or sutures, so healing time is shorter and easier.
For the procedure, tiny holes are made in the gum tissue where it meets the cheek. Your doctor uses these access points to loosen the gum tissue from the jawbone so that it can be manipulated back into position over the tooth roots. Collagen is then placed under the tissue to help hold it in its new position while it heals.
Your dentist can refer you to a trusted periodontist who will evaluate your condition to see if you are a candidate for laser gum surgery. They will also treat the cause of your gum recession and will likely advise you to increase the number of professional cleanings you get each year to make sure everything stays healthy.